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Washington, DC Man Who Escaped Twice Exiled To Over 19 Years In Prison For Escape, Drug And Gun Charges

Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett sentenced Deandre Kelly, age 32, of Washington, D.C., today to 236 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute narcotics, escape, and for carrying and using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence. Judge Bennett ordered that 8 years of Kelly’s sentence will be served consecutive to the 15 year sentence he is currently serving for a conviction in the District of Columbia.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Maryland U.S. Marshal Johnny Hughes; District of Columbia U.S. Marshal Edwin D. Sloane; Colonel Marcus L. Brown, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police; Garrett County Sheriff Robert E. Corley; Garrett County State’s Attorney Lisa Thayer Welch; and Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler.

According to Kelly’s plea agreement, on July 15, 2009, Kelly pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute PCP, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Kelly was released pending sentencing. When Kelly failed to appear for sentencing, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Kelly remained a fugitive until January 22, 2011.

On January 22, 2011, Kelly was the front seat passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for speeding in Garrett County by a Maryland State Trooper. As the driver and back seat passenger got out of the vehicle, Kelly jumped into the driver’s seat and took off speeding. Troopers pursued Kelly for seven miles until he crashed the vehicle. Although he gave a false name, Kelly was identified by his fingerprints. A search of the vehicle recovered a pound of marijuana on the front passenger side floor, where Kelly had been seated, and a loaded .40 caliber handgun, with an obliterated serial number, located under the rear portion of the driver’s seat. In addition, 47 grams of crack cocaine and a small amount of marijuana were recovered from Kelly’s pants.

Kelly was initially taken to the Garrett County Memorial Hospital. On January 23, 2011, Kelly was transferred to the Garrett County Detention Center to be held for an initial appearance the next day. At about 8 p.m. that evening, Kelly brandished a firearm, assaulted the officers working in the detention center, and escaped. A car was waiting for him outside the jail and he was taken to his brother’s home in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Subsequent investigation showed that Kelly had made several phone calls from the detention center to plan his escape.

Kelly was arrested again on May 2, 2011, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the Maryland and Washington, D.C. U.S. Marshals Service, Maryland State Police, Garrett County Sheriff’s Office, Garrett County State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Maryland Attorney General’s Office for their work in the investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant United States Attorney Andrea L. Smith and Special Assistant United States Attorney Gerald A. A. Collins, a cross designated Maryland Assistant Attorney General assigned to Exile cases, who prosecuted this Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force case.